Section I - INTELLIGENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Section III - COMMENTARY

Section IV - Obituaries, Research Request

Obituaries

[Members wishing to express appreciation for any of the exceptional individuals listed in AFIO death notices may do so at this link: memorial donations.]

Ralph Adams, Former NSA Executive Director, and former AFIO Board Member.

Ralph W. Adams, 79, a decorated senior intelligence executive at NSA, and a former member of AFIO's Board, died of Alzheimer's Disease, 23 January 2017 in Columbia MD. a resident of Columbia, MD passed away on 23 January.
In 2015 he was inducted into NSA's Cryptologic Hall of Honor, a tribute accorded pioneers and heroes who rendered distinguished service to American cryptology.
A native of Omaha, NE, he went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from Creighton University and joined the U.S. Army. He attended the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center in Monterey, CA, learning Vietnamese which make this Vietnam veteran an expert Vietnamese linguist. With the Vietnam War in full stride, Ralph was recruited by NSA in 1965 and returned to Vietnam serving multiple tours, and was appointed Senior Language Advisor to both the U.S. Army and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Ralph was one of the last NSA experts to be evacuated from South Vietnam before the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Ralph's distinguished 31 year NSA career included difficult and challenging posts. He was chief of an overseas liaison office working with intelligence partners and served for three years as NSA's Chief Legislative Officer, responsible for coordinating and defending NSA's mission and budget with Congressional Intelligence and Appropriations Committees. Ralph broke through the "glass ceiling" at a time when there were few minorities in upper-level management positions in the federal government, and was a strong champion for diversity in the workplace and one of the original program managers for the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program designed to facilitate recruitment of minorities, particularly minority high school students.
Ralph received the Exceptional Civilian Service Award. In 1989 he was chosen to head a major production group in NSA's Operations Directorate. He managed and led a workforce of highly skilled linguists, collection specialists, analysts, reporters, mathematicians, engineers, computer scientists and code breakers producing intelligence on some of the nation's most important intelligence targets.
He served as the Agency's Inspector General; next, as Chief of NSA's Pacific missions; and finally, as NSA's Executive Director. He retired in 1996 as the second highest ranking NSA civilian. One other award received was the Presidential Rank. Upon his NSA retirement the Director of CIA presented Ralph with the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.
He loved aquatic sports and served as a volunteer diver at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md. for over 10 years. He was a proud member of Phoenix Society.
He is survived by his wife and other family. A memorial service is being planned for mid-March.
In his many roles as patriot, war hero, federal civil servant, manager, leader, husband, father and grandfather Ralph carried himself with grace and class, and acquitted himself with distinction in his performance and in his life each and every day. Rest in peace Ralph, and know that at the rising of the sun and at it's going down, you will be remembered. . .

Landgrave Smith, Jr., USAF(Ret), SAC Nuclear Codes Designer, IBM Fed Systems, active in many AFIO events in 1980s and '90s. Landgrave T. Smith, 94, left on his last flight on the evening of 25 August 2016. Col. Smith flew 42 combat missions in the Martin B-26 Marauder during WWII, and continued on full flight status as an AOB jet-qualified command pilot for 30 years. He was assigned to SAC in 1951 and was involved in the design and implementation of the SAC underground command and control center at Offut AFB, and responsible for development of the system of operational codes and sealed authenticators for positive control of nuclear weapons. That was followed by duty with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1967, where he was responsible for the operation of the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon. [Read more: Money&King]

Research Request

Buyers of AFIO's Guide to the Study of Intelligence - would you provide a review on Amazon? Did you buy a copy of The Guide to the Study of Intelligence? If so, what did you think? Writing a short review on Amazon often helps others decide whether to buy the book. We would appreciate your opinions. If you would take a few minutes to provide your review on Amazon, it will help others evaluate this newly released work of 100+ intelligence officials and professors in our field. Thank you.

Section V - Events

AFIO EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN COMING TWO MONTHS....

Thursday, 9 February, 2017, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm - Scottsdale, AZ - The AFIO Arizona Chapter hosts David Gonzalez, US Marshal, District of Arizona, on "The State of Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement in Arizona."

SPEAKER: David P. Gonzalez ~ United States Marshal District of Arizona on "The state of Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement in Arizona." Marshal David Gonzalez will be discuss the issues effecting law enforcement in Arizona and how the State of Arizona got to this point. He will also talk about the challenges facing the future of Arizona. Prior to being sworn in as the US Marshal for the District of Arizona on May 3, 2002, David P. Gonzales worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety for 25 years. Marshal Gonzales began his law enforcement career at the age of 19 as a Deputy Sheriff for the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. He was nominated for US Marshal by Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl and appointed by President George Bush. President Barack Obama reappointed Marshal Gonzales as US Marshal for the District of Arizona. Marshal Gonzales' career with the Arizona Department of Public Safety began as a Highway Patrolman in Tucson. He moved up the ranks to assume command responsibility for the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CID). At the time, CID was comprised of 350 detectives who were assigned statewide to the Narcotics Unit, Organized Crime Unit, Gang Enforcement Unit, Auto Theft Unit, Intelligence Unit, Special Operations Unit, including SWAT, Canine and bomb disposal, and the Governor Protection Unit. Marshal Gonzales is recognized nationally as an expert in the operation of multi-agency task forces, community and law enforcement activities to identify and reduce street gangs and identifying and investigating money laundering activities arising from criminal enterprises. As US Marshal for the District of Arizona, he manages one of the busiest and largest districts in the US Marshals Service. Marshal Gonzales received a B.S. degree in Public Administration from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He is also a member of the Harvard University/Kennedy School of Government's Executives in State and Local Government, and is an Executive Development Graduate from the University of Southern California.
Location: Best Western Thunderbird Suites, 7515 E Butherus Dr, Scottsdale, AZ.
RSVP to simone@afioaz.org or simone@4smartphone.net or call and leave a message on 602.570.6016. Cost: $18 pp. RSVP no later than 72 hours ahead of time. No Shows will be charged. REMEMBER, if you are bringing a guest please send the full name of that person.

Friday 10 February 2017, 12:30 - 2pm - Los Angeles, CA - The AFIO Los Angeles Chapter hears from John Hallstead and conducts elections and other business

Presentation: John Hallstead will give a brief intelligence topic overview, following the election & business portion of the meeting.
Lunch will be served
Location: L.A.P.D - ARTC 5651 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
RSVP: AFIO_LA@yahoo.com

Saturday, 11 February 2017, 11am - 3pm - Orange Park, FL - The North Florida Chapter hears from William F. Crowe, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation IT Security Risk Manager, speaking on "Cyber Wars, Theft, Methodology and History."

Mr. William F. Crowe, who will speak on "Cyber Wars, Theft, Methodology and History." He is the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation IT Security Risk Manager with over 20 years' experience in Information Technology security, risk, audit and governance which includes my military experience and careers at Citi and Chase.
Please RSVP right away to qbegonia@comcast.net or call 904-545-9549 for this meeting. Cost: $24 per person, pay the Club at the luncheon.
Location: Country Club of Orange Park. Please RSVP on/before the 1st of February so we can lock down attendance to keep the club happy. Remember, as always, kin or friends, especially potential members, are always welcome.

Saturday, 11 February 2017 - 11:30 - Patrick AFB, FL - The Florida Satellite Chapter hosts Dr. Clifford Bragdon on "Transportation Security for Global Survival."

Dr. Clifford Bragdon, AICP, FASA, founder and president of the Global Center for Preparedness and Resilience, has over 40 years of academic experience, research and consulting in the fields of urban planning, sustainability and transportation, homeland security and simulation. He will address us on the topic of Transportation Security for Global Survival.
TIMING: 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM: Social Hour, greet old, new members and guests (limited cash bar  honor system); 12:15 PM: Sit-Down lunch
FEE: Member and spouse: $25; Non-Members/Guest:$28; Student and active duty military: $22
TO ATTEND: Prepaid reservations are required which must be received by Friday, 3 February. Register at www.afiofsc.com or send check and meal choice [salmon, chicken, or beef] by first contacting FSC Chapter President at afiofsc@afio.com.
LOCATION: Please note new meeting venue. The Tides, 1001 N. Hwy A1A, Bldg #967, Patrick AFB, FL 32925.

Tuesday, 14 February 2017, noon - MacDill AFB, FL - The Florida Suncoast AFIO Chapter hears from RADM Gerald Talbot, USN(R) on "The Importance of Intelligence in the Interagency Decision Making Process."

We have a very informative and insightful program in store as we welcome RADM Gerald Talbot, USN (ret), speaking on the importance of intelligence in the interagency decision making process. Mr. Talbot was detailed in June 2011 as the Executive Director National Security Professional Development Integration Office responsible for implementation of a national strategy for the development of National Security Professionals. Prior to that, Talbot served as the Associate Administrator for Management and Administration at the National Nuclear Security Administration, responsible for the management and operations of the Administration's planning, programming, budgeting and evaluation function; human capital management; acquisition management; and, administrative operations.

Location: MacDill AFB Surf's Edge Club, 7315 Bayshore Blvd, MacDill AFB, FL 33621. Lunch is $20, payable at the door by cash or check.
RSVP: the Chapter Secretary at michaels@suncoastafio.org for more information or to make a reservation. Responses are due by noon on Tuesday, 7 February.

24 February 2017 - Tysons Corner, VA - AFIO National Kick-off Luncheon for 2017 - Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives of the Islamic Terrorists Trying To Destroy America, and Spy Sites of Washington

AFIO National's first luncheon of 2017 features Dr. James E. Mitchell discussing Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives of the Islamic Terrorists Trying To Destroy America. Mitchell was a civilian contractor who spent years training US military members to resist interrogation should they be captured. Aware of the urgent need to prevent impending catastrophic terrorist attacks, he worked with the CIA to implement "enhanced interrogation techniques"'which included waterboarding. Despite the media hysteria that followed, he tells us why EIT remains valuable. Mitchell's co-author, Bill Harlow, will be present but not a presenter.

"Emotions are high and accusations are being thrown about, but facts matter. Before anyone rushes to judgment, they should read this book and take in what happened through the eyes of a key player in the CIA's interrogation program." - General Michael Hayden, USAF, Ret., Former CIA Director

"The authentic account of head-to-head hardball with fanatical Islamic killers by a professional who not only won big for America, but did it while fending off powerful critics. The lessons learned needed to be told - and well-told they are. The war on us by radical Islamists is far from over - read and learn!"
- Hon. Porter J. Goss, Former Chairman of House Intelligence Committee and CIA Director

In the afternoon, we hear from Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton, authors of what will be the just-released Spy Sites of Washington, DC: A Guide to the Capital Region's Secret History. A mesmerizing tour of traitors and tradecraft revealing the wheres and whys of Washington's second-oldest profession. Robert Wallace is the former director of CIA's Office of Technical Service. He and Melton have co-authored four books. Keith Melton is an intelligence historian and owns one of the largest collections of spy paraphernalia in the world.

Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Mezzanine, 1960 Chain Bridge Rd, Tysons Corner, VA 22102. Hotel: 703 893-2100. Driving directions here or use this link: http://tinyurl.com/boey9vf  For security reason, reservations on day of event are not allowed.

REGISTER NOW.

Other Upcoming Events

21 February 2017, 1130am - 2pm - McLean, VA - The Defense Intelligence Forum hosts Joseph Mazzafro on "What to Expect from an IC Reset."

Defense Intelligence Alumni Association luncheon features Joseph Mazzafro who has over four decades of IC experience. Since 2011, he has used his in-depth knowledge of the Intelligence Community to enable CSRA (formed through the combination of the North American Public Sector business of CSC and SRA International) to grow. He has worked at Oracle's National Security Group and also led business development/IC alliances for EMC. At Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory where he was Scientific and Technical Officer, he guided the labs' relationship with the IC in its key role in the development of: IED defenses, the Area Air Defense Commander system, the Global Net Centric Surveillance and Targeting System, various ballistic missile defense programs, and concept of operations for numerous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Before entering the private sector he served in the US Navy for 27 years and retired with rank of Captain.
Event location: Pulcinella Restaurant, 6852 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA
Fee: Pay at the door with a check for $29 payable to DIAA, Inc. Registration starts at 1130 AM, lunch at noon.
RSVP by 21 February 2017 by email to diforum@diaalumni.org. Include names, telephone numbers, and email addresses for each attendee and choose among Chicken Parmesan, Trout Lemone, Grilled Sausage with Sweet Peppers, Lasagna, Manicotti with Spinach and Ricotta, Cannelloni alla Bolognese, or Fettuccini with Portobello. Please provide your luncheon selection with your reservation to reduce the wait time for your food. If you wish to pay at the door, do so with a check for $29 per person, payable to DIAA, Inc

22-25 February 2017 - Baltimore, MD - The International Studies Association (ISA) 58th Annual Convention: "Understanding Change in World Politics."

The International Studies Association (ISA) 58th Annual Convention: "Understanding Change in World Politics"is a major annual academic conference which has a section of special interest to professors and students studying intelligence: the Intelligence Studies Section (ISS) which hosts many panels and presentations at the conference. Headquarters Hotel: Hilton Baltimore, Baltimore, MD.
A tentative list of the ISS panels at this ISA may be viewed here.

ISA has a new online program (requires login) that lets ISA members or event registrants to search by person, title, sponsor, and keywords. You can use this to build a personalized schedule that you can download as a PDF to have handy when you're at the convention.

For much more information visit this link.

24 February 2017, 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Washington, DC - The Changing Role of Intelligence in a Changing World - Gene Poteat presentation at The Institute of World Politics

American intelligence services, constrained by law and with oversight from the executive and both branches of Congress, are thus liable for their actions, but are not immune from politics. Rather than going along with our changing culture and politics, the problems facing our intelligence are avoided by strict vigilance and adherence to the highest professional judgements and ethics - without political considerations. This event is the fourth Brian Kelley Memorial Lecture and is sponsored by the IWP Alumni Association. About the speaker S. Eugene (Gene) Poteat is a retired senior CIA Scientific Intelligence Officer, and has served as President of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO). He was educated as an electrical engineer and physicist. He holds a Masters in Statecraft and National Security Affairs from IWP. His career in intelligence included work with U-2 and SR-71 class of aircraft and various space and naval reconnaissance systems. He also managed the CIA's worldwide network of monitoring sites. He holds patents on covert communications techniques. His CIA assignments included the Directorate of Science and Technology, the National Reconnaissance Office, Technical Director of the Navy's Special Programs Office and Executive Director of the Intelligence Research and Development Council. He served abroad in London, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia. He received the CIA's Medal of Merit and the National Reconnaissance Office's Meritorious Civilian Award for his technological innovations.
Location: The Institute of World Politics 1521 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
REGISTER HERE.

Wednesday, 29 March 2017, 10am - 1pm - Annapolis Junction, MD - Stephen Budiansky discusses A New Perspective on NSA's Covert Activities at this NCMF spring program

Please join National Cryptologic Museum Foundation friends and colleagues welcoming Stephen Budiansky acclaimed author, journalist, and historian of cryptology, speaking on "A New Perspective on NSA's Covert Activities."
A book signing of Mr. Budiansky's book Code Warriors: NSA's Codebreakers and the Secret Intelligence War Against the Soviet Union follows his presentation and lunch follows that at noon.
Mr. Budiansky will speak about his latest book (noted above) that draws on an array of recently declassified documents to explore the NSA's long SIGINT struggle against the Soviets, and traces the historical forces behind the intelligence controversies making headlines today. Mr. Budiansky is the author of numerous books of military and intelligence history, science and biography including Battle of Wits: The Complete Story of Codebreaking in World War II and Blackett's War. He is the former foreign editor and deputy editor of US News & World Report, and former Washington editor of the scientific journal Nature, and a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal's book review pages. You will not want to miss this program that draws on an array of recently declassified documents to explore the NSA's long SIGINT struggle against the Soviets and to trace the historical forces behind the intelligence controversies making headlines today.
Where: CACI, Inc. located at 2720 Technology Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701, Tel 301-575-3200. Directions and Map here. Click "directions" to get driving guidance.
RSVP NOW: register online here or mail registration fee of $20 (members) or $50 (guests, includes one-year membership) to NCMF, PO Box 1682, Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-9998. Please register prior to 23 March to ensure space available.

30 March - 1 April 2017 - Washington, DC - Joint Conference on "Creating and Challenging the Transatlantic Intelligence Community"

The Woodrow Wilson Center, the German Historical Institute, and the Intenational Intelligence History Association are delighted to invite you to the jointly organized conference on "Creating and Challenging the Transatlantic Intelligence Community".

Please register for the conference by email to the IIHA Executive Director at exec_director@intelligence-history.org before 23 March 2017.
The conference fee is 150 EUR / 165 US-Dollar, 110 EUR / 120 US-Dollar for IIHA members and 75 EUR / 80 US-Dollar for students.
This includes dinners on Thursday and Friday as well as coffee breaks during the conference and a snack lunch on Saturday.
Full list of Speakers and Tentative Schedule here.

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